Never before has it been easier to collect smurfs. If you like to collect different variations of a particular smurf, it is worth looking at Umbrella smurf, #20118. The Umbrella smurf has always created talk amongst the die hard collectors especially the yellow umbrella variation one whether it is genuine or not.
Umbrella smurf was one of the last smurfs produced by Bully in 1979 and then from 1980 to 2002 and 2004 by Schleich. Wallace Berrie also sold Umbrella from 1981 to 1983 and then in 1990 under the name of Applause (formerly known as Wallace Berrie).
There appears to be no real variance on the figurine other than the colour of the blue skin. The main variance is to be found with the white polka dot spots and the colour of the mushroom.
All Bully marked ones can be found with the white polka dot spots as part of the umbrella, best probably described as raised white polka dot spots. The mushroom was orange red shade. I have also found ones made out of Hong Kong that have the some kind of umbrellas.
The Schleich mades have the white polka dot spots sprayed onto a red coloured mushroom. With the early releases these were a lighter red colour compared to the ones released after 1990 that have a stronger red colour.
In 1990 Applause decided to relaunch the smurfs in the USA and in Canada with a range of different smurf merchandise. As part of the relaunch 11 smurf figurines were released (old releases, no new designs) and has the markings China, Applause. Umbrella smurf was one of the eleven smurfs released.
I do believe the yellow umbrella variation does actually exist, but I also feel because some of these can fade these are easily passed off by sellers as genuine. One only needs to look underneath the umbrella to see what was the original colour of the umbrella. Sadly when buying smurfs online, you don’t always get this opportunity. This is when buying smurfs from an experienced seller can make all the difference.
So next time it rains, don’t forget your Umbrella smurf to protect you from the elements.
Keep on Smurfin
Kath B